Winter storm brings icy roads, power outages

“Expect a lot of slick spots (Sunday) morning. After (Sunday) morning there will be very limited spots of standing water as the sun comes out and everything dries out,” Duffey said.

Holly Ridge resident and Washington state native Austin Alexander said he made sure his family has all the supplies they would need if the power goes out.

“I like to make sure I have supplies I need if the power goes out. I’ve got gas in my cars just in case and plenty of water,” Alexander said.

Despite the snow and ice, Alexander says his biggest worry is ice and other drivers.

“I usually get pretty nervous because a lot of people here don’t know how to drive in inclement weather, not that they’re bad drivers, it’s just that they’re not used to the snow. I would feel pretty comfortable driving around right now,” Alexander said.

County and city officials advised residents be cautious of inclement weather and to avoid travelling until icy conditions decrease.

The Jacksonville Police Department and N.C. Department of Transportation closed the Jacksonville Bypass from N.C. 53 to U.S. 17 Business Saturday afternoon, according to Assistant City Manager Glenn Hargett.

Lt. Charles James reported three wrecks occurring on the Buddy Phillips, Sewell and Northeast Creek bridges occurring in the afternoon, according to the City of Jacksonville. The Northeast Creek bridge crash involved four vehicles with one of the vehicles overturning, causing injuries.

JOEMC spokesman Steve Goodson says there were three reported power outages on Saturday as of 4 p.m., but overall the grid faired well through the storm.

The first two outages occurring in south Topsail Beach and the Folkstone areas were minor and were restored in less than 30 minutes.

A bad transformer caused power outages to about 200 residencies in the Queen’s Creek area, although that number was down to about 100 by late afternoon, he said.

Meteorologist Richard Bandy with the National Weather Service in Newport reported water level rises of about 1 to 3 feet above normal on the coast adjacent to the Pamlico Sound and Neuse River. There could still be some additional water level rises, especially sound side near the Outer Banks and downeast Carteret County that could cause some minor inundation in low lying areas and some roadways.

“Precipitation is going to wind down pretty quickly in the next couple hours into the night. For the most part there’s not much precipitation as a whole except up towards the Outer Banks and towards the Northwest part of the state,” Evan Duffey said, an Accuweather meteorologist. “Temperatures will get down to 16 degrees and Northwest winds will be 12 to 25 miles per hour so it’s going to feel very chilly out there.”

Travelers are urged to call 511 or go DriveNC.gov for up to date roadway conditions. Motorists are reminded not to call 911 or the State Highway Patrol Communication Centers for roadway conditions.

If you must travel, the North Carolina Highway Patrol recommends following these safety tips:

• Reduce your speed. Driving at the regular speed limit will reduce your ability to control the car if you begin to slide.

• Leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles. Bridges and overpasses accumulate ice first. Approach them with extreme caution and do not apply your brakes while on the bridge.

• If you do begin to slide, take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide. Do not apply the brakes as that will cause further loss of control of the car.

• Those heeding warnings and staying home should remember not to use gas-powered generators or other fuel-burning appliances indoors or in their garage because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Real-time weather and road conditions and shelter openings, as well as winter safety tips, can be found on the free ReadyNC mobile app or online at www.readync.org website.